Chapter 11
I was already walking away from the restaurant when Ashton shouted from behind me, but I ignored him. I was about to order an Uber when the screech of tires cut through the air. Ashton’s car swerved up behind me and stopped abruptly in front of my path.
“Get in, Bailey.”
“No.”
“Do not be a fool,” he said sharply. “I will drop you back at the bakery.”
I paused for a moment, weighing my pride against my exhaustion. Standing on the side of the road arguing felt childish, and I was too drained to care.
“Fine.”
I got into the car, but if he expected conversation, he was mistaken. Whatever energy I had left was gone. I leaned back in the seat and let the silence stretch between us.
Ashton drove steadily, the car gliding along the familiar curves of the road.
Tall trees lined both sides, their branches forming a quiet canopy overhead, while glimpses of the lake shimmered through the gaps.
A soft melancholy settled over me. This place had once felt like home.
Now it felt like a memory that no longer belonged to me.
I closed my eyes and let the breeze brush against my face, carrying the scent of the forest. It grounded me, as though the world had slowed just enough for me to breathe. I sensed Ashton glancing at me from time to time, subtle but deliberate. Each look lingered longer than necessary.
Then my phone buzzed against my lap.
I glanced down and my chest tightened. Sissy was calling. My thoughts leaped instantly to one person.
Tristan.
I answered without hesitation.
“Hi, Mom!” Tristan’s cheerful voice filled the car.
“Hi, sweetheart,” I said softly. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. I just miss you, that’s all.”
My fingers curled tighter around the phone. “Oh, baby. I miss you so much too.”
“So when are you coming back?” he asked.
The question caught me off guard. I remembered where I was. Who I was with. I lowered my voice instinctively and turned slightly toward the window.
“I will be back soon,” I promised. “Can I call you again in fifteen minutes?”
“Okay.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
I ended the call quickly and placed the phone face down on my lap. My heartbeat thundered in my ears. The car suddenly felt smaller, heavier. I stared straight ahead, silently hoping Ashton had not heard enough to start asking questions I could not answer.
The road stretched on in silence.
Ashton’s jaw tightened. His hands gripped the steering wheel harder than before.
“Boyfriend?” he asked.
The word sounded casual, but the tension beneath it betrayed him.
“What?” I turned toward him, sharper than I intended.
“The one who called,” he said, eyes flicking briefly to me before returning to the road. “Sounded important.”
I forced my expression to remain calm. “It is not your concern.”
His lips pressed into a thin line.
“Right,” he muttered. “Must be someone who matters a great deal to you.”
There was no mistaking it now. Jealousy edged every word, restrained but burning beneath the surface.
I turned back to the window, my chest tightening. If only he knew. If only the truth were simple enough to say aloud.
The rest of the drive passed in tense silence, unspoken questions hanging thickly between us.
When we finally arrived, I felt like I could breathe again.
“Thank you,” I said, already unbuckling my seatbelt.
Ashton did not look at me. He did not reply.
Just as I reached for the door handle, something occurred to me.
“There is no document for me to sign, is there?”
He turned then, his expression blank, unreadable. “No.”
“Then why did you come looking for me?” I demanded. “What is your plan, Ashton? At this point, I am willing to accept whatever offer you are giving me.”
A bitter curve touched his mouth. “I bet you really are desperate to go back.”
“Oh, I am,” I shot back. “So make sure you bring it next time we meet. I do not like playing games.”
I slammed the door and stepped away.
Behind me, Ashton pressed the accelerator and sped off. The roar of the engine grated on my nerves, leaving my anger buzzing beneath my skin.
I unlocked the bakery and stepped inside, relieved to find it empty. Eva and the others had already gone home.
**********************************
I sat in my favorite spot inside the bakery for hours, trying to calm myself.
I called my son back as promised, and we talked for a while.
Triston was a wonderful boy, and this was the longest we had ever been apart.
That alone explained why he had called earlier, even though we had already spoken that morning.
According to Sissy, he had been feeling insecure, afraid that I might not come back.
The thought tightened something deep in my chest.
It reminded me where my priorities truly lay. My son came first. Always. I needed to return to him as soon as possible.
I had to make a decision. If Ashton planned to drag out the negotiation, I would have no choice but to find another buyer. I could only hope I found someone who genuinely cared about the bakery and would continue its legacy with the same passion Marie once had.
Exhausted by my thoughts, I decided it was time to head back to the cottage.
A sound at the door startled me. For a brief moment, I assumed it was Eva returning.
Then I froze.
Standing before me was the last woman I ever expected to see.
She wore white pants and a pink floral blouse, standing tall and composed, her eyes fixed on me as if she were judging my worth and waiting for my reaction.
The woman who replaced my late mother.
Amelie.
My father’s new wife.